Bio (the long version)

For some unknown reason, you’ve decided that you want to know more information about me. Well, be careful what you wish for…

First of all, let’s get the boring stuff out of the way. I was born in 1977. I live in Austin, TX. I am married to a very wonderful woman, Crystal. I am the owner of two not-so-wonderful cocker spaniels, Thelonious Straight No Chaser (Theo) and Sebastian (C-bass).

I was born in the thriving metropolis of Florence, SC (population 30,248 -- 2000 Census). I have a twin brother and a younger sister (both of whom are married, but not to each other). My parents are nothing like the parents I typically write about -- in other words, they’re actually pretty good in the parenting department.

I left Florence in 1995 to attend the University of Oklahoma. To say that going from Wilson High School to OU was a culture shock would be the understatement of the century. My high school was 85%-90% African-American. OU was more like 85%-90% un-African-American. I went from a classroom full of black people to being the only brown face in the crowd. I also went from being one of the smartest people in my class (co-valedictorian, along with the twin brother) to being a good, but not great student.

In between starting college and graduating with a civil engineering degree, I joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., met the aforementioned "very wonderful woman" whom would become my wife, and most importantly (at least in the context of writing), I finished the first draft of A Red Polka Dot In A World Full of Plaid. For more about Red Polka Dot, check out my blog post, "2944 Days and Counting".

For being a little-bitty book by a little-bitty publisher, A Red Polka Dot In A World Full of Plaid has done pretty well. It made the Essence Magazine Bestselller list in March 2006 (#6 for Paperback Fiction). Later that year, it was published as an audiobook by Recorded Books.

My next novel is titled My Life As A Rhombus, and is about a math tutor named Rhonda Lee. It’s published by a great house called Flux (a Llewellyn Worldwide Imprint). My editor is pretty cool, for being a French horn playing Minnesotan.

When I’m not writing about foul-mouthed, angst-ridden teenagers, I design bridges. If you live in Austin or Dallas, you’ve more than likely traveled over some of them. I’m also currently enrolled in the Vermont College MFA Program for Writing for Children and Young Adults, and am a member of SCBWI, the Writers' League of Texas, and The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN).

For more earth-shaking information about me, check out my faqs page. Or check out my blog. Or email me.